Hydraulic air-compressor



Patented 1 61).. 5,1834,

a mil/11111111111111 I UNITED STATES CHARLES HORACE HILL, OF

PAT NT Fries.

SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

" HYDRAULIC AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 292,814, dated February 5, 1 884.

Application filed July 16. 1883. (N0 model.) 7

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Hydraulic Air-Compressor, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to hydraulic air-compressors, and it has for its object to produce a device which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

To this end it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing hereto annexed the single figure represents a vertical sectional view of my improved hydraulic air-compressor.

A designates a tank or cylinder, closed at the top, and having at the bottom an annular flange, B, resting against the bottom or base plate, 0, a gasket, ,D, of rubber or other suitable packing, being interposed.

E is a ring resting upon the flange B, and haying a downwardly-extending annular flange, F, encircling the flange B, gasket 1), and the base-plate, and making atight joint. The fastening screws or bolts G pass through the ring I E, flange B, gasket D, base 0, and also through the legs G three or more of which maybe used, andwhich are in this manner secured'in position to support the tank or cylinder A. The bottom plate, 0, is provided with the wa ter-inlet I and waste-pipe J. Near the former is located an upright, K, to which is fulcrum ed a lever, L, the ends of which are provided with valves M N, adapted to close, respectively, d the inlet I and the waste-pipe J. In the drawing the latter is shown closed, while the inlet is unobstructed. 1 O is an inverted cylinder or tank place within the tank A, it being raised from and connected with the bottom of the said tank by legs I. Cylinder O has a pipe, Q, extending nearly to the'top of thetank A, and provided with abracket, R, to which is pivoted alever, S,having a valve, T, which serves to close the upper end of the pipe Q in an air-tight manner. The end of lever S carries afloat, U, the weight of which normally. serves'to press the valve T against the opening of pipe Q, keeping the latter closed.

Inside the inverted tank 0 is a float, V, which is connected with the lever L, for the purpose of regulating the valves M N, as will be hereinafter described. The top of the tank A has an air-inlet pipe, W, adjoining whichis a downwardly-extending bracket, Y, to which is pivoted a lever, Z, having a valve, A", which closes the said inlet.

To the lever Z is pivoted a rod, X, which extends downwardly through suitable guidebrackets, B attached to the inverted tank 0, and reaching to within a short distance of the lever L, so that when the latter is raised by the action of the float V it shall strike against the said rod X and cause the valve A to be opened. The lever Z of the air-inlet valve also extends over the end of the lever S, so that when the latter is raised by the action of the float U it shall strike against thesaid lever Z and cause the valve A to be opened. A guiderod, 0 extends through and downwardly from the .float U and through the upper guidebracket, B for the purpose of holding the said float steady during operation. The top of tank A has an air-exit pipe, D, connected by a pipe, E with atight receptaclesuch as, for instance, a keg of beer. The pipe D has a check-valve, F which will permit the compressed air to pass out, but 'will'prevent its back-flow.

The operation is as follows: The valves N, A, and T being closed, and water being allowed to .enter at the inlet I, it will, by rising in the cylinder A, compress the air therein. Owing to the air confined in the tank 0, the water will only rise for a short distance in the said'tank, and not high enough to liftthe float V, and even if the water should rise high enough to submerge the float the latter will not have sufficientbuoyancy to overcome the downward pressure upon the waste-valve N. The water will rise till it reaches the float U,which will of its own buoyancylift and open the valve Tby means of the lever S. This lets the air confined within the tank 0 escape into the larger cylinder, and allows the water to enter Ioo the tank 0 from below and entirely submerge the float V. The latter, however, will not havesuflicient buoyancy to overcome the press- 11 re now existing upon the waste-valve N. The float U continues to rise until it reaches the le ver Z, which opens the valve A permitting a portion of the compressed air to escape. The pressure upon the waste-valve being thus relieved,the float V will instantly rise, thus opening the waste-valve N and closing the inlet valve M. It also retains the inlet-valve A in an open position by the action of the lever L, rod X, and lever Z. The water will run out of the cylinder A at the waste-pipe J. As it lowers, the float U will sink, thus closing the valve T, making the top of the inverted tank 0 air-tight. The water will continue to es cape from the tank A, but remains suspended in the tank 0, thus retaining float V in a raised position. The water descends till it reaches the lower edge of the tank 0, which will then be suddenly emptied, thus causing the float V to drop, closing the waste-valve N, opening the water-inlet, and causing the air-inlet to be closed, thus placing the apparatus in position for a repetition of the operation.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination of a closed cylinder ortank provided in its bottom with a water-inlet and a wastepipe,alever provided atitsrespectiveen ls with valves adapted to close the said inlet and waste pipe, a closed inverted tank placed within the said main cylinder, a float located within the said tank, and connected with and adapted to operate the lever controlling theinlet and waste openings, means for automatically establishing communication between the inverted tank and the main tank when the water risesin the lat: ter, and means for automatically opening an air-inlet valve at the top of the main tank, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the closed main tank, provided at its bottom with inlet and waste pipes, an inverted tank arranged within the said main tank, with the bottom of which it is securely connected by means of suitable supporting-legs, a float located within thesaidinvetted tank, a lever connected with and operated by the said float, and provided at its ends with valves adapted to close the inlet and waste openings, and tank U, with connected valve T, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hydraulic air-compressor, the combination of the closed main tank, providedinits bottom with inlet and waste pipes, an inverted tank placed within the main tank, and having a pipe extending nearly to the top of said main tank, a lever provided at its ends with valves adapted to closetheinlet and wastepip'es, a float located within the inverted tank and connected with and operating the said lever, a lever fulcrumed-at the upper end of the pipe, extending upwardly from the inverted tank, and having a valve adapted to close the said pipe, a float at theend of the saidlever, an airinlet in the upper part of the main tank, alever having a valve adapted to close the said airinlet, and provided with a rod extending downwardly to within a short distance of the lever controlling the water-inlet and waste-'pipe,said air-inlet-controlling lever being extended over and adapted to be operated by the lever ful-' crumed at the top of the pipe, extending upwardly from theinvertcd tank, and an air-outlet arranged in the upper part of the main tank, and having a check-valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signaturein pres ence of two witnesses.

CHAS. HORACE HILL.

\Vitnesses:

OH. E. BRADBURY, W'aL'rnR J. NoRRrs. 

